Automatic lamp stem fabricating apparatus



May 5, 1953 Filed Dec. 27, 1945 R.M.GARDNER ETAL AUTOMATIC LAMP STEMFABRICATING APPARATUS 14 Sheets-Sheet l BY www M Attovney May 5, 1953 R.M. GARDNER ETAL AUTOMATIC LAMP STEM FABRICATTNG APPARATUS Filed Deo. 27,1945 14 Sheets-.Sheet 2 ...SSISESM 3m. Y. A. 6

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Roland M. Gardner Stanley J. Gavtnev Edwin W. Barrett INVENTORS AttorneyMay 5, 1953 R. M. GARDNER ETAL 2,637,144

AUTOMATIC LAMP STEM FABRICATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 27, 1945 14Sheets-Sheet 5 R. M. GARDNER ETAL AUTOMATIC LAMP STEM FABRICATINGAPPARATUS Filed Deo. 27, 1945 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 5, 1953 Rohmd/"\.6avdner Stanleg J. Gartner Edwin W. Barrett JNVENTORS BY MM,

Attorney May 5, 1953 R. M. GARDNER x-:T AL 2,637,144

AUTOMATIC LAMP STEM FABRTCATTNG APPARATUS Filed Deo. 27, 1945 14sheets-sheet 5 Fg. 31a

45 y Roland l"\.(5c1vdne|J Stanleg `).Garilner Edwin W. ESQ-wett A5 l AHINVENTORS BY J+2`1 I W IgM-m4 ATTO RNEY May 5, 1953 R. M. GARDNER ET AL2,637,144

AUTOMATIC LAMP STEM FABRICATING APPARATUS Filed Deo, 27, 1945 14Sheets-Sheet 6 66 L .62. RolandMavdner Stanleg J0 Gartner Edwin W. awettmv E NToR s Attol'ney May 5, 1953 R. M. GARDNER ErAL 2,637,144'

- AUTOMATIC LAMP STEM PABRTCATING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 27, 1945 14Sheets-Sheet '7 SO 90 Roland M. Gardner A Stanley J. Gartner A/ z 92 95Edwnwqwett 80 97 82 mvENToRS Attovney May 5, 1953 R. M. GARDNER ETAL2,637,144

AUTOMATIC LAMP STEM FABRICATING APPARATUS Filed DBG. 27, 1945 14Sheets-Sheet 8 12S Roland M. Gardner |24 Stanley J. Gartner .Edwin W.Barrett INVENTORS ATTORNEY May 5, 1953 AUTOMATIC LAMP Filed Dec. 27,1945 R. M. GARDNER ET AL STEM FABRICATING APPARATUS 14 Sheets-Sheet 9Roland /mGm/dnev Stanley J.Gnvtnev Edwin w. Barrett INVENTORS ATTO R NEY May 5, 1953 R. M. GARDNER ET AL AUTOMATIC LAMP STEM FABRICATTNGAPPARATUS 14 Sheets-Sheet l0 Filed Deo. 27, 1945 INVENTORS RolandMardner Stanley J. Gartnev EduJn W. awei;

BYMM

ATTO R N EY May 5, 1953 R. M. GARDNER ET AL 2,637,144.

AUTOMATIC LAMP STEM FABRTCATING APPARATUS Fi1ed"Dec. 27, 1945 14Sheets-Shee't ll ,f1/A5 Fapi 29 iig 205 fg If- '206 l I JM E a /95 Fv-ZZ o 29230 mw l9| Roland Wtclvdnev Stanleg `).Garlnev Edwin W. Bal/FettINVENTORS /QWLM/ `ATTORN EY May 5, 1953 R. M. GARDNER ET AL 2,637,144

AUTOMATIC LAMP STEM FABRICATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 27, 1945 14Sheets-Sheet l2 Roland' M. Gardner Stanleg Jl Gartner Edwin W. BarrettINVENTORS` Byw M ATTORNEY May 5, 1953 R. M. GARDNER ET Al. 2,637,144

AUTOMATIC LAMP STEM FABRICATING APPARATUS Filed DSG. 27, 1945 14Sheets-Sheet 13 Fi 36 257 g y n Roland /VLGardnev Stanley `).GclrtnevEdwin W. Barrett INVENTORS ATTO RN EY May 5, 1953 R. M. GARDNER ET AL2,637,144

AUTOMATIC LAMP STEM FABRICATING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 27, 1945 14Sheets-Sheet 14 Rokmd l"\. Gardner Stanley J. Gartner Edwin W. BarrettINVENTORSk ATTO R N EY Patented May 5, '1953 AUTOMATIC LAMP STEMFABRICATING APPARATUS Roland M. Gardner, Swampscott, Mass.,4 Stanley J.Gartner, Emporium, Pa., and Edwin W. .Barrett, Danvers, Mass., assignorsto Sylvania Electric Products Inc., Salem, Mass., a corporation ofMassachusettsl l Application December 27, 1945, Serial No. 637,454() l'Y f '1c oiaims. (c1. 49-2) This invention relates to automatic machinesVfor fabricating glass stem elements for lamps or thermionic devices.

The invention has for a principal vobject to provide a machine which isreadily converted from the execution of a given operation or series ofoperations to another operation or series of operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic machinewhich is exceptionally durable and which is consistently accurate inoperation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine which is soemcient and rugged in construction that its speed of operation may beincreased substantially above the normal speed of such machines.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the typeindicated, the elements of which offer maximum accessibility.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear fromthe following description in connection with the accompanying drawingsand will be particularly pointed out in the v annexed claims.

rl'he machine is provided with an extremely compact and rigid frame,elongated and of girder like construction, occupying a minimum of floorspace.

The frame is provided with means for supporting and driving a pair ofchain type conveyors having a plurality of stem carrying units securedthereon. rlhe two conveyors are driven at the same speed and aresuperposed or arranged in other suitable cooperative relationship. Themajor portions of the conveyors travel in a straight line lengthwisealong the frame and are driven by suitable sprockets. One conveyor isshorter than the other and so arranged that its operative elementsfunction for only a portion of the operating cycle of the otherconveyor.

Extending parallel with the conveyors and journalled in the frame aretwo or more cam shafts driven in timed relation to the conveyors andhaving cams thereon which actuate operational devices which functionsuccessively to fabricate the stem assemblies carried by the conveyors.The operational devices are secured along the frame in predeterminedsuccession adjacent the conveyors.

Means are provided for positioning the operational devices at any pointalong the frame and maintaining predetermined correct relationship withthe stems carried by the conveyors. Thus accurate and readilyestablished timing of the operations is obtained.

In 'conjunction withy the cams, direct acting l levers are provided totransmit the motion devel- Y oped by the cams to. the .operationaldevices.

The cams and leversthemselves may be readily shifted lengthwise of themachine along the cam shafts properly to cooperate with their respectiveoperational elements.

The operational elements are indicated in part to illustrate theirrelationship to the main driving and supporting elements of the machineand to aid in illustrating the general operation of the machine.

To provide a better understanding of the invention a preferredembodiment thereof will now be described and illustrated in the drawingsin which:

'Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine in which certainv elementsare removed and certain portions are shown schematically;

Figures l-a and l-b, are .detail views of the conveyor locking means;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section on line 2 2, Figure 1;

' Figure 3 is a 'partia1 plan view of the machine illustratingtheconveyor members and indicating diagrammatically the `relativeposition of the stem fabricating mechanisms shown elsewhere;

l v Figure l is a partial plan View of the lower conveyor member showingthe disengagement of the well blocks from partially completed stems;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the elements shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective View of a portion of the conveyor chain andits guide rails;

Figure 7 illustrates a stern completed but for mounting a filamentthereon;

Figure 8 is an exploded view of the stem parts;

Figure 9 is a view showing the relative position of the stem elementsjust prior to the stem press forming operation;

Figure 10 is an enlarged plan View of a portion of the conveyor and astem holding head;

Figure 11 is a front View of a stem holding head;

Figure 12 is a side view of the head;

Figure 13 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the lower conveyormember and a well block assembly secured thereto;

Figure 14 is a front View of the well block assembly;

Figure 15 is a side view of the well block assembly;

Figure 16 is a detail view of one of the holding members of the wellblock assembly;

Figure 17 is a detail View of the other holding member of the well blockassembly;

Figure 18 is a plan view of the mechanism for actuating the are holdingarm of the stern holding head;

Figure 19 is a side elevation of the flare holding arm actuatormechanism;

Figure 20 is a side view of the flare feeding mechanism;

Figure 2l is a plan View of the nare feeding mechanism;

Figure 22 is a front elevation rof lthe lead wire feeding mechanism;

Figure 23 is a side elevation of the lead wire feeding mechanism;

Figure 24 is an enlargedside view of the "lead wire pick-up finger;

Figure 25 is a detail view illustrating the lead wire shuttle actuatingmeans;

Figure 26 is a front view ofthe lead wire pickup finger;

Figure 27 is a diagrammatic view of the means for preventing feeding ofa lead wire when no flare is present in the head at the lead wirefeeding station;

Figure 28 is a detail view of the lead wirepickup nnger and itsactuating mechanism;

Figure 29 is a side view of the exhaust tube feeding mechanism;

Figure 30 is a detail View illustrating the action of the exhaust tubeholding arm actuating means;

Figure 3l is a fragmentary detaii perspective view illustrating theaction of a feeler mechanism for preventing feeding of exhaust tubeswhen no flare is present in a holder;

Figure 32 is a view similar to Figure '31 show ing the parts in adifferent position;

Figure 33 is a side view ofthe mechanism for correctly positioning a arein its holder;

Figure 34 is a plan view of the ilare adjusting lever and flare;

Figure 35 is a detail view showing the means by which exhaust tubes arecorrectly positioned in the flares;

Figure 36 is a side elevation of the mechanism for forming the press ofthe stem;

Figures 37 and 38 are plan viewsof the press forming die members showingtheir operating and retracted positions respectively Figure 39 is aperspective View of a .stern with the press portion formed thereon;

Figure 40 is a detail sectional View taken along line tQ-Ml of Fig. 1showing the iexible means for connecting the conveyor frame member tothe main machine frame;

Figure 4l is a plan view of the mechanism for removing completed stemsfrom the machine;

Figure 42 is a side elevation of the mechanism for removing completedstems; and

Figure 43 is a view showing the means by which the bead at the top ofthe stem is formed.

The main frame I of the machine desirably is composed of an elongatedsubstantially straight base portion 2 and a superstructure 3 rigidlymounted upon and spaced above the base. The superstructure is composedof a supporting element 4 upon which a plurality of mechanisms aremounted which function in sequence to fabricate a stem unit. The support4 may bemount ed upon the base 2 in any desired manner and is shownherein as held in position parallel to the base by means of a pluralityof columns 5.

The support 4 extends the full length of the machine and presents atleast two dat straight platens 6 upon which the above mentionedfabricating mechanisms are detachably mounted.

The upper frame portion 'i of the superstructure is rigidly secured tothe member 4 in any suitable manner as by the columns 8. The frameportion l extends parallel to the member 4 and functions to support andguide a pair of endless chain conveyors 3 and I0 the'straignt portion ofwhich moves accurately parallel to the platens 6 of the member 4.

The conveyor chain I0 is driven by a sprocket II which engages it at oneend of the frame I while at its other end the conveyor travels over anidler sprocket I3. The portions of the conveyor between the sprocketstravel in straight parallel lines.

The conveyor chain 9 is situated directly below the conveyor I0 and isdriven by a sprocket I4 de sirably mounted upon a vertical drive shaftl5 which is common to the sprocket iI and journalled in the frame 'I atits upper end. The other end of the conveyor 9 travels over an idlersprocket I6. The idler sprockets i3 and .I5 are journalled upon shortshafts mounted in chain tighteningr devices 'I l slidably adjustableupon the frame I.

The lower end of the drive shaft I5 extends into a, machine driving unitdesirably enclosed in a casing I8 upon the base 2. Power to drive thevmachine may be obtained from any suitable source such as the electricmotor I9 which desirably is provided with a variable speed 'reducingdrive 2t, the output of which is coupled to the machine drivingmechanism within the casing I8.

Each of the two conveyor chains are of the same construction andcomprise a plurality of pivotally interconnected links 2I (Fig. 3). Thelink ZI is so constructed that it constitutes support and guiding meansfor each of the stem holding and transporting heads 22 each of which isremovably secured to a projecting ear 23 on each link, the ear 23 beingprovided with a slot 24 and extending laterally outward from the body 2lof the link. The ends of the links are pro vided with pivot pins 25which connect adjacent links (Fig. 6). The pins 25 vproject downward andhave rotatably mounted thereon anti-friction rollers 25. The links alsohave a lateral extension 21 extending in a direction opposite to theprojection 23. The extension 2l is provided with a downwardly extendingpin 26 upon the lower end of which is rotatably mounted an antifrictionroller 29.

The rolls 25 and 2S engage respectively the outer and inner edges of aguide rail Ell which is rigidly secured to the frame The links are thuspositively guided in a straight path hori zontally. Another guide rail3| is situated above and engages the upper face of extension 27 (Fig.4). The upper face of the extension 27 rides upon the lower face of therail 3i while the lower face thereof rides upon'the upper face of therail 3U. The links are thus guided vertically between the rails 3! andSI and horizontally by engagement of roll 26 and roll Z9 with oppositefaces of the rail 30. The rails 3G and 3| are rigidly secured to theframe member 7 in any suitable manner such as by means of screws, asshown in Figure 10. The rail 3G may have an auxiliary member 30Xsituated inwardly of but not engaging the roll 29. The upper rail 3ldesirably embraces substantially the full length of the extension 2l anddesirably has a small clearance at its outer margin to reduce friction.Normally therefore the rail 3| contacts only the inner end of theextension 2'I. The weight of the heads 22 establishes the contactingareas between the links and the guiding members in the manner abovedescribed. The rail 3l is held properly spaced from the rail by spacingblocks 3|X. The conveyor 9 is provided with guiding means of the sameconstruction.

Acting in conjunction with the heads 22 are the above-mentionedoperational devices to be described hereinafter and which act tofabricate the article being produced. These operational devices aresecured upon the platens 6 upon the member 4 and are actuated by camsmounted upon cam shafts 33 journalled in the columns 5 of the machineframe (Fig. 2). Any desired number of cam shafts may be provided. Twocam shafts are illustrated herein, disposed below the member 4 andarranged parallel and symmetrically spaced with respect to each platenE.

The cam shafts are driven in timed relation to the travel of theconveyors in any suitable manner. As herein shown they are each providedwith gears 34 and 35 keyed upon the ends of the shafts 33. rEhe gears 34and 35 mesh with each other and are in turn driven by an idler gear 3Smeshing therewith and rotatably mounted upon a, short shaft 31 mountedin the colurnn 5 adjacent the drive unit It. The gear 3G is in turndriven by an interrneshing gear 38 keyed upon the output shaft 39 of thereducing unit 2t.

The column members 5 also support a plurality of fulcrum shafts 4U whichextend for the full length of and are parallel to the cam shafts 33(Fig. 1). The fulcrum shafts are situated in convenient positions tofulcrum a plurality of cam actuated levers for actuating the saidoperational devices. The cams and levers will be described hereinafterin greater detail.

The machine of the present invention is adaptable to Various fabricatingprocedures and is particularly adapted to the fabrication of stemassemblies for incandescent and fluorescent lamps. The elements thus fardescribed in detail perform the basic motivating functions of themachine and are fixed parts thereof. Acting in conjunction with themotivating means are a plurality of units referred to hereinbefore asoperational devices which are designed to fabricate a specific productsuch as a stem assembly for an incandescent lamp. The operationaldevices may be changed at will to convert the machine to theconstruction of other articles. The present machine is designed togreatly facilitate such a conversion and permit rapid and accurateadjustment of the newly installed operational units. The termsoperational units as used herein refers to the various mechanisms whichfeed the parts to the machine, assemble and form the finished article.

By way of example the machine will be described as equipped to produce aconventional type of stem such as shown in Figure 7. The sternillustrated is of the type used in incandescent lamps `and itsdisengaged component parts are illustrated in the exploded View Figure8. The various parts are fed to the machine, combined and formed thereinto complete the stem. A preformed glass flare 4| is rst fed to themachine and is provided with a cylindrical portion 42 and a skirtportion 43. A pair of lead wires 44 are next fed into position withinthe nare, after which a glass exhaust tube 45 precut to the correctlength is also placed in position Within the flare. The relativeposition of the elements at this time is shown in Figure 9, in whichposition they are held by the heads 22 on the conveyor and by means ofwhich the assembled parts are carried into the path of a plurality ofburners 46 which soften the glass after which the glass is formed to thedesired shape by means of conventional forming devices. Furtheroperations are subsequently performed to complete the stem.

Each link of the conveyor It is provided with a head 22 While each linkof the conveyor 9 is provided with a coacting member 41 commonly knownin the art as a Well block. The Well blocks 4l and the heads 22 aremaintained in alignment upon an axis common to the axis of the lamp stemwhile it is being fabricated. The well blocks function to maintainaccurate alignment of the stern parts and coact with the heads 22 duringa portion of the machine cycle.

The heads 22 are illustrated in detail in Figures 10, 11, and l2. Sinceall of the heads are alike a single head will be described. The elementsof the head are mounted upon a rigid frame member 48 which is secured toand projects laterally from its supporting link 2l. It may be securedthereto in any suitable manner. As shown herein it is detachably securedto the bottom face of the projecting ear 23 on the link by means of abolt 49 which passes through a boss 50 of the frame 48 and through theslot 24, the head and link being held together by a nut upon the bolt.To maintain accurate alignment of the head, a pair of pins 5l projectdownward from the ears 23 and are received in apertures .in the boss 5Gthus locking the head in accurate position.

The frame 48 is provided with an exhaust tube receiving arm 52, whichdesirably is situated upon a vertical plane 53 extending laterally :fromthe conveyor and substantially midway between the pivot pins 25. The arm52 desirably is provided with means for adjusting it along the plane 53to provide for accurate positioning of the exhaust tube 45 which isreceived in a vertical V-slot 54 in its front end.

The tube 45 is held in its position in the groove 54 by a retainingfinger 55 which is pivoted upon a vertical shaft 55 which in turn isreceived in a vertical boss 5l integral with the frame 48. The finger 55is provided 'at its tube retaining end with a toe portion 55a whichengages the tube 45 at a point opposite the receiving arm 52. The arm 55is provided with an actuating portion 58 extending in a directionopposite to the tube retaining portion. The toe 55a is held in resilientengagement with the tube by means of a spring 59 anchored at one endupon a spring post Gli fixed in the link 2l. The post has a portionextending below the link, to which one end of the spring 59 is secured,while its other end is secured to the arm 55 at GI.

Means are also provided to receive and hold the flare 4l in the head. Todo this a nare receiving block 52 is secured in a downward exn tension53 of the frame 5.15. The block 52 has a are positioning slot which maydesirably be a vertically disposed V-slot :64.

The shaft 56 extends downward and has secured thereon an arm 56 situatedin the hori- Zontal plane occupied by the block B2. The arm t5 is shapedto reach into a position to engage the flare opposite its contact withthe block 62 thus to hold the iiare in its proper position. The arm isheld resiliently against the dare by a spring 5l. The action of thespring is conveyed to the arm 66 through the shaft 55 which eX- tendsupward above the boss 5l in which it ro.

tat'es and has secured upon its upper end an actuating lever 68 which isprovided with a spring post 6s projecting downward therefrom to whichone end of the spring G'F is secured while `the other end of the springis secured to the springpost 6B.

Desirably the shaft is held in vertical position by means of a collar 3Msecured thereto and received in a slot 'l0 in the boss 51. The collar30| may have a stop pin il which acts to limit the inward travel of thearm Et by engagement of the frame ist to prevent undesirable engagementof the arm with the block [i2 when no flare is present.

Means are also provided for guiding and holding the lead wires 44 inproper position against the inner Walls of the cylindrical portion 42 ofthe dare. To accomplish this end a pair of ilexible guide `arms 'l2 arespaced substantially the required distance apart of the lead wires andanchored rigidly at their inner end to a block 'E3 which in turn isprovided with a trunnion portion ifi rotatably received in a boss l5.Means are provided and will be described hereinafter for exing the arms'l2 inward while the wires 44 are being placed in position after, whichthe arms are permitted to return to their normal position vand in sodoing engage and move the wires into proper position during their returnmovement.

As above stated, well bloei: assemblies 41 are provided to cooperatewith the heads 22 in supporting and positioning the various componentsof the stem. Each well block is secured to a link of the conveyor 9 andis positioned below and in alignment with each of the heads Z2. Eachwell block is disposed in position to receive the lower ends of theexhaust tube and lead wires of the stem assembly held by its coactinghead 22.

Each of the weil block assemblies il comprises a main frame member l@which is provided with an attaching boss 'VI which is secured to itssupporting link: 2| in the same manner as are the hears 2E by means ofthe bolt 'lil passing through the boss 'il and slot 24 in the link(Figs. l-fl).

well bloei.; is held in alignment by the pins SGE projecting into theboss il from the link 2 The frame To proiects laterally outward from theconveyor and has secured upon its outer end one member of an exhausttube and lead wire l receiving device fil which coacts with anothersimilar member 82 to guide and position the exhaust tube and lead wires.The member S2 is secured to a swinging arm which is pivoted upon o.shaft il!! rigidly secured in an extension 85 of the frame iii. The armd has an inward extension 36 having a roll il'l on its end which engagesactuating means for separating the members Sli and 82 to receive orrelease the exn haust tube and lead wires. members 8l] and 82 arenormally held in closed position by means of a coil spring G8. Desirablya cylindrical portion 88 concentric with the shaft 84 projects down fromthe arm 83 and serves as a core about which the spring 88 is looselycoiled. One end of the spring is anchored in the arm 83 and its otherend is iixed to the stationary head 99 on the end of the shaft 34. Thespring is placed under tension sumcient to hold the elements 8|! and 82in iirm engagement.

The members 80 and S2 are removabh7 and adjustably secured in position.Desirably they are each provided with angle brackets 9| to the verticalportion of which the members 80 and 82 are secured. The horizontal legsof the o brackets are laterally adjustable with respect to the conveyoralong the common plane 53 thereby to eiect the adjustment of the memberslili and 62. The members 8] and 82 are provided along their inner faceswith opposed grooves to present a recess 92 within which the lower endof the exhaust tube is received. The recess 92 is positioned accuratelyupon the stem axis 65.

A pair of smaller opposed grooves may be formed in each of the members8i] and 82 to present recesses 93. However, it may be more desirable toform the grooves in the member 82 only as shown in Figure 17. Thesegrooves are parallel to and properly spaced from the recess 92 toreceive the lower ends of the lead wires 44.

Suitable stop members are provided within the recesses 33 fordetermining the iinal vertical position of the lead wires.

The lower end of the inner face of the member 82 is cut away at 9'! toreceive a pair of stop members 98. The members 9B are verticallyadjustable] and have their upper ends disposed in position to be engagedby the lead wires 44 when they are fed into the recesses 93 therebycorrectly determining their Vertical position. Vertical adjustment ofthe members 98 may be provided for in any suitable manner. As shownherein they are provided with slots 39 within which locking screws I arereceived. The screws have threaded connection with member 82 and serve,when tightened, to lock the meinbers 93 in adjusted position.

The rst operation in producing a stein is to feed a fia-re ill intoproper position within each head 22 as they are fed to the ilare feedingstation. To successively feed to the heads, the conveyors are drivenintermittently and come to rest at accurately determined positions. Anysuitable means may be used to provide the intermittent drive. As shownherein the end of the drive shaft l5 extending into the casing I8 hassecured thereto a driving wheel llil which is provided with a pluralityof downwardly projecting driving lugs equally spaced around the wheeland desirably provided with tapered rolls IGZ (Fig. l). The end of theoutput shaft 39 of the reducing unit 2Q projects into the casing I8 andhas secured to its end a cylindrical cam |t3 which has a helical slotllili therein extending substantially around its periphery. Theremainder of the cam is open. The cam |03 is so positioned with respectto the wheel lill that as the cam rotates one of the rolls lill! entersthe slot |64. The slot is so formed that its helical conformation actsthrough the roll |ll2 to rotate the wheel lill and consequently thesprockets l lfl the required amount to move the conveyors the length ofone of their links, after which the roll passes out of the slot and theconveyor remains stationary until the cam |03 has made a completerotation, at which time another roll on the wheel lill has moved intoposition to enter the cam groove to execute another indexing cycle.

The dwell of the conveyors is of course timed to permit completion ofoperations at each fabricating station. Ii desired, means may beprovided for locking the conveyors against movement while they are atrest. This may be done in any suitable manner, as by means of a stopwedge |05 which is moved into position between two rolls |82 during thedwell of the conveyors and removed from the path of the rolls duringindexing by a cam |66 keyed to the shaft 38 (Figs. la and 1b). mitted tothe wedge by means of a leverage system |01 or in any desired manner.

At the initial station a iiare lll is fed into position against theblock 62 of the head 22 in reversed position with its flange portion 43upward (Figs. 18-21). At this time, the fiare retaining arm 06 has beenretracted to its open position. The opening movement of the arm isaccomplished by motion from a cam |08 upon the adjacent cam shaft 33.Motion derived from the cam is transmitted to a rocker shaft |09 bymeans of a system comprising a lever and links I I0, the lever of thesystem being fulcrumed upon one of the shafts 40.

The shaft is rotatably mounted upon the frame member 'I desirably uponthe upper rail 3| in a special supporting member having a base 3|a fromwhich extend upwardly and outwardly a pair of posts I| in the upper endsof which the shaft |09 is journalled. Actuating arms I|2 and I I3 aresecured upon the shaft |09. The arm I I2 is situated to engage theactuating arm 68 of the head 22 while the other arm l I3 functions toactuate the unloading station to be described hereinafter. The abovemechanism is best shown in Figures 18 and 19.

The cam |08 is designed and properly timed in its operation to rock theshaft |09 to move the arm 66 into open position to receive a flarethrough the medium of lever I|0, link IIOa and an arm II4 secured uponthe shaft. After the flare has been delivered the actuating arm |I2permits the spring 61 to close the arm 66 upon and hold the are inposition.

The mechanism employed for feeding the flares is or may be ofconventional design. The complete mechanism will therefore not be shown.rlhe flares 4| move by gravity down an inclined runway I l5 extendinglaterally outward from the conveyors. The runway is composed of a pairof spaced parallel plates between which the cylindrical portion of theflare is received while the skirt portion 43 rides upon the top edges ofthe plates. Normally a retaining rod IHS engages and holds back a flareat the end of the runway. The runway is so situated that this flare isclosely adjacent the holding block 62 of a head 22.

Immed'fr-tely after the conveyors come to rest, subsequent to anindexing cycle, the cam |08 acts to rotate the shaft |09 through thelever |I0, link Illia and the arm IM which retracts the arm 66 in themanner above described. After retraction of the arm 66, the retainingrod IIS is retracted to permit the flare it is holding to move from therunway H5 into position in the V-slot in the block 62 of the head 22.This inward movement is assisted by a guide wire |II which extendsinward in a plane a short distance above the block 62 into a position toembrace and support the flare when it is in contact with the block.

After the nare has come to rest against the block 62, the cam |08permits the arm 06 to swing into position clamping the flare under theaction of the spring 6l, and rod Il@ is returned to its originalposition engagingr and retaining the next succeeding flare.

Any suitable means may be used to move the rod IIS into releasingposition and back again to blocking position. As shown in Figure 20 therod is fixed in a block I I i3 which is pivoted to an arm IIS securedupon a shaft |20. This shaft is rotatably mounted at its ends in a pairof brackets I2! located upon opposite sides of the runway The cam motionis trans- 10 ||5 and are secured to and extend inward to- Ward theconveyor from a main bracket. The main bracket is in turn secured to theplaten S of the machine as shown in Figure 2.

The upper end of the rod I I6 is slidably guided in another block |22which is pivoted upon an extension |23 of one of the brackets I2I.

The shaft |20 is rotated to operate the rod I I5 by a link |24 pivotallyconnected to a combination arm and cam member |25 secured upon the outerend of the shaft |20. The link |24 extends downward and is pivoted to acam lever |26 fulcrumed upon the shaft 40 and actuated by a cam |21having a contour designed to move the rod into its two positions duringa revolution thereof.

The shaft |20 is provided with another arm |28 to which a spring isattached, tending to rotate the shaft clockwise as seen in Figure 21. Aslot |39 in the link |24 establishes a safety in providing a giveway inthe event the rod strikes a machine part on its upward stroke. This rodactuating mechanism imparts an ideal curved upward and inward motion tothe lower end of the rod I6.

If desired a further refinement may be provided in the flare feedingdevice which acts to release one flare at a time against the rod IIEfrom a line of flares held in the runway. To do this a shaft |3|reciprocates in the brackets |2| and has secured thereto a pair of stoppins |32 which are successively projected and withdrawn from the line offlares. The pins are spaced apart a distance to permit one flaretherebetween. One end of the shaft ISI projects into engagement with thespiral cam face of the member |25and is held against the cam by asuitable spring means. O-scillation of the shaft |20 to actuate the rodI6 also reciprocates the shaft |3| which causes the pins to enter andwithdraw from the path of the flares. In a nonfeeding position theoutermost pin |32 Wthholds al1 of the flares. When the shaft I3I shiftshowever, the outer pin is withdrawn and the inner pin is projected intothe path of the flares; thus a flare engages the inner pin. Upon thenext shift of the shaft I3I a single flare is released to engage the rodH6. Flares are thus fed one by one to the rod H6, thus relieving it ofthe burden of the full line of flares in the runway.

The are which has just been fed to the conveyor will now be followedthrough from station to station, it being understood that a flare is fedto each head as it arrives at the flare feeding station, and allsubsequent operations are performed repeatedly as a flare arrives at thevarious stations and is built up into a completed stem. Thus the machineproduces a continuous flow of completed articles.

The head containing the flare now passes on to the lead wire feedingstation where a pair of lead wires are placed in proper position in theflare. At this point in the machine cycle, the lower conveyor 0 movesinto position below the conveyor I0 thereby bringing the well blockassemblies 4l into position below and in alignment with the heads 22.

When the head being described arrives at the lead wire feeding station apair of wires precut to proper length is fed to the nare and come torest against the adjustable stops 04 in the wire slots 93 in the wellblocks. The means for feeding the wires contains duplicate mechanisms,each of Which manipulates a single wire simultaneously. The wires 4d arestacked in parallel relation in hoppers |36 secured upon a horizontalsupporting plate |23? (Figs. 22-28). The plate is mounted upon a rigidpost |38 which is adjustably secured in a rigid column |39 secured to abracket It@ which in turn is secured to and extends laterally outwardfrom the platen 6. Desirably the platen is provided with one or moregrooves IM within which a key upon the bracket is received.

A single wire is picked from the stacks by a pair of identical lingersM2. The innermost wires of the stacks are supported at their endportions only to permit the lingers to engage their middle portions. Thelingers are vertically reciprocated by means of a yoke |43 secured to anactuator rod iM which travels vertically within the post |33 and extendsdownward and is guided through the column i3d and bracket liti. The rodHifi is driven by a cam on the cam shaft 33. The cam in turn actuates alever Hl fulcruined upon the shaft 4S, and has on its outer end a rollto engage the bottom face of the rod. The rod is held against the camlever by a compression spring surrounding the rod and bearing at one endon the bracket MQ and at its other end against a collar on the rod.

The fingers |552 are freely pivoted upon the lower end oi vertical rodsit@ which are slidable in the yoke |43 and have stop shoulders at theupper end to cause them to be drawn upward by the yoke. The object ofthe free movement of the rods in the yoke will appear hereinafter.

The ngers ML2 are provided with inwardly projectingr arms |49. The rodsHi8 also have short rigid arms |55 above the arms |43. A cornpressionspring |5| is received between the arms |43 and |53 and acts to swingthe arms outward into engagement with the vertical edge of the pile ofwires in the hoppers. The vertical motion of the ngers derived from thecam moves them over the inner edge of the stack or wires and in so doinga single wire is picked from the pile by each finger and entershorizontal slots 52 in the fingers under the action of suction inducedby small holes Ist leading to ducts les extending up through the ingers.The ducts |54 connect with the openings in hollow pivot pins |55 uponwhich the fingers swing. The pivot pins are extended to receive aflexible tubing connected to a suction puinp or other vacuum device notshown.

A feature of the invention resides in the construction of the fingers|42 which are `provided with one or more small slots |55 extendingtransversely of the slots |52 (Figs. 24 and 26) The slots |56 preventthe lingers from picking up more than one wire at a time since they actto greatly reduce the suction upon any wire but that which is accuratelypositioned in the slot |52.

The lingers |42 are provided with short projections |57 extendingoutward adjacent Jtheir pivots (Fig. 28). At the end of the upwardtravel of the fingers, the projections |57 engage pins |58 which arerigidly fixed in a cross bar `|53 mounted on a support extending upwardfrom the plate |37. Engagement with the pins causes the iingers to swinginward and in so doing pass between a pair of stripper wires Iil fixedin supports -secured to plate |37. The wires ,|68 strip the wires 44from the fingers from where they fall into a pair of chutes |6| having afunnel shaped upper portion into which the lead wires fall in asubstantially horizontal position and are tipped up into a substantiallyvertical position thereby to then travel through the 12 lowercylindrical portions of .the chutes (Figs. 23 and 25).

From the chutes |6| the wires pass into a Ipair ci feeding or shuttledevices |62 which feed the wires into the iiare. The shuttle members arespaced apart the distance between successive heads on the conveyor andeach shuttle feeds one wire to each iare so that in two successiveindexing operations the flares receive their two lead wires.

The shuttle members must be vertically reciprooated to enter the dareswhen feeding the lead wires and retracted therefrom during indexing(Figs. 22 and 23). To accomplish this the shuttles are mounted on avertically movable shaft |33 having bearings in the column |39. Specialsafety means are provided for supporting the shuttles on the shaft. Ayoke |551l is rigidly fastened at its central portion to the upper endof the shaft. A pair of slide bars it are secured in vertical positionto the outer ends of the yoke. Upon the bottom ends of each bar arereceived blocks Hit upon which the shuttles are mounted. Stop pins areprovided to retain the blocks on the bars. The weight of the blocks andthe shuttles normally hold them at the bottom of the bars, but if in theoperation or" th-e machine the shuttle should accidentally engage somepart of the machine or an improperly positioned iiare, the blocks willride up on the bars and prevent damage to the machine.

The shaft |53 is actuated by a cam ll mounted on the cam shaft S3. Thecam acts upon a lever |63 which has a roll at its outer end engaging thebottoni oi the shaft |553. The shaft is held against the lever -by anexpansion spring |69 surrounding the shaft and bearing against thebracket it@ at one end and against a collar on the shait at its otherend. r"he lever |68 is fulcrumcd upon the shaft fill.

The shuttle members are pivoted to the blocks 53 upon shafts |70arranged to permit the shuttles to swing in a plane parallel to theconveyors. The shafts |763 are rotatable and extend :through the blocks|66. The extension of the shafts has arms |7| secured thereto. The arms|7| have attached to their outer ends one end of a tension spring |72the other end of which is iixed to the blocks |66. The springs |72therefore act to swing the upper ends of the shuttle inward toward eachother.

The shuttle members |52 are provided with cam rolls |73 situated aboveand inward from the shaft |70 in position -to engage a pair of cams |751fixed upon the column 33 during the vertical reciprocating movement ofthe shuttles. At the upper end of the travel of the shuttle members therolls |73 ride oil" the cams |74 and the shuttles are swung by theirsprings into a position having their needle portion |75 at theiroutermost position. During the downward motion of the shuttles the cams|711 produce a pattern of motion for the shuttles as follows. At ailtimes the lower hollow needle-like portion |75 of the shuttle is heldoutside of the two flexible wire guides 72 on the head 22. At the top oftheir stroke the ends |75 of the shuttles are in their outer position asabove stated and as they move down they pass outside of the guides 72.The rolls |73 then engage the cams |74 which act to move the ends |75inward substantially to the axis of the dare, flexing the guides inward.The shuttles 4then enter the iiare and, after entering, the rolls |73ride oil the lower end of the cams, at which time the springs |72 move

